Nov. 10, 2016
Teams: Vanderbilt (0-0) vs. Kennesaw State (0-0)
Day, Date: Friday, Nov. 11
Tip-off time: 7 p.m.
Site: Nashville, Tenn. (Memorial Gym)
Radio: WNSR 560 AM / 95.9 FM
TV: SEC Network-Plus (Online: ESPN3)
Tickets: Ticket info can be found HERE or by calling 615-322-GOLD
After months of anticipation, the Stephanie White Era officially begins on Friday night, when Vanderbilt hosts Kennesaw State in the regular season opener for both teams. The game will also feature the debut of five Vanderbilt freshmen, all of whom are expected to make key contributions for the Commodores this season. Here’s a closer look at the game:
l New leader: Stephanie White enters her first season with the Commodores after being named head coach on May 24. Becoming just the fifth head coach in the program’s history, White is replacing former head coach Melanie Balcomb, who resigned in April after 14 seasons with the team. White comes to Vanderbilt after spending two seasons as head coach of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. She led the team to the playoffs each season, including guiding the Fever to the 2015 WNBA Finals in her rookie season to become the first rookie coach in league history to take a team to the finals. White’s plan is to now bring an WNBA-style energy to the Vanderbilt program. White is joined on the bench by associate coach Carolyn Peck, a former Vanderbilt star and a member of VU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Peck was White’s head coach during White’s playing career Purdue, and together, they helped lead the Boilermakers to the 1999 national championship.
l New year, new names, new system: Under White’s direction, the Commodores’ are switching to a new, fast-pace tempo this season. The Vanderbilt roster also has plenty of newness, with a talented cast of five freshmen. Together, those five players — LeaLea Carter, Erin Whalen, Kayla Overbeck, Cierra Walker and Kaleigh Clemons-Green — formed a touted recruiting class that was ranked No. 6 by Blue Star Basketball, No. 9 by Prospects Nation and No. 17 by ESPN HoopGurlz. The five freshmen have shined brightly during the Commodores’ two exhibition games, combining for 51 points against Union and 43 points and Bellarmine. In both games, a freshman has led the way in scoring — Walker had a team-high 19 points against Bellarmine, and Whalen led all scorers with 21 against Union.
l Scouting Kennesaw State: Just like the Commodores, Kennesaw State has a new head coach this season — Agnus Berenato. The veteran coach has compiled a 444-413 record in her career, which includes stops at Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Rider. … The Owls are coming off an 11-19 season in 2015-16. … Redshirt junior Kelly Dulkoski is Kennesaw State’s top returning scorer. She averaged 9.9 ppg last season. … As a team, KSU averaged 59.7 points per game while allowing 65.3 ppg last year. … Friday’s game represents only the fifth time that KSU has ever played an SEC team. They have gone 0-4 against the SEC, losing twice to both Georgia and Florida
l Update on the Commodores: Vanderbilt has looked impressive in its two preseason contests, defeating Bellarmine 97-63 and downing Union 93-43. Against Bellarmine, the Commodores exploded for 59 points in the second half. Freshmen guard Cierra Walker scored a team-high 18 points and Rachel Bell added 16 for the Commodores, who saw six players reach double figures. Senior Marqu’es Webb finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds. Against Union, Vanderbilt had 10 players reach the scoring column, paced by Erin Whalen’s 21 points. The Commodores outscored the Division II Bulldogs 46-15 in the second half. Whalen finished 10-of-17 from the floor in the win, and she was one of four players in double figures for the Commodores. Junior guard Christa Reed had 19 points, freshman Kayla Overbeck had 16 and junior Rachel Bell had 10.
l Special guest for season opener: The Commodores announced last week that Mayor Megan Barry is slated to attend Friday’s game. Barry, who graduated from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt, will be recognized during a brief ceremony before the game, and will be presented with a commemorative game ball.
l Signing Day Success: Comprising the inaugural signing class of Vanderbilt first-year head coach Stephanie White, a pair of highly-rated recruits — Autumn Newby and Chelsie Hall — signed National Letters of Intent with the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. Newby is a 6-2 forward from Archer High in Lawrenceville, Ga., who averaged 12.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game last season. Hall is a 5-7 point guard from Seffner Christian Academy in Tampa, Fla., who averaged 21.2 points per game last year. Together, the two players form a signing class that was ranked No. 23 in the nation by BlueStar Report on Wednesday. (Newby was ranked by BlueStar as the No. 20 overall prospect and Hall was ranked No. 28).
l Looking ahead: After Friday’s season opener, the Commodores hit the road, traveling to Bloomington, Indiana to face the Hoosiers on Sunday.